Monday 29 February 2016

An Auchmithie Bird Watcher

Birds have a hard enough time in winter just getting enough to eat to stay warm and alive without having to worry about domestic cats. This one won't even leave them in peace on the rooftops in Auchmithie. Yes it's sitting on a chimney eyeing the Starlings and getting a heat no doubt.






There is a Red Head Smew in the centre of this photo which I estimate was about 1km away!



My garden is currently being invaded by Starlings but not yet at the record level of 227 counted from a photo some years ago


Still at least eight but probably fourteen Tree Sparrows in the garden

Saturday 27 February 2016

Hen Harrier again

More photos of the Hen Harrier male, but still taken from one side of a field to the other on another day when the forecast sun didn't appear. In the sequence it tries to drive a Buzzard away from the area it was hunting in but eventually gave up and moved on.



The closest it ever got, but believe me it's still far away


Hunting, all of the buntings and linnets scattered


A prolonged attack on a Buzzard which failed


A determined character, especially when you see the size difference



The size comparison obvious in this photo



The Harrier means business in this one but the Buzzard isn't impressed



It's got the Buzzard's attention but to no avail and it gave up after this



Wednesday 24 February 2016

Hen Harrier on the Angus coast

Some half decent photos and some I've put in because the subjects were just too far away but still of interest and warranted a photo.


A male Hen Harrier, too far for a photo and over-exposed but it's the first male I've ever seen so it's in


Peregrine, then it went and chased the pigeons


Female Reed Bunting


Male Reed Bunting


Skylark. one of may seen


Another Skylark from a different angle


I just couldn't get close to this Corn Bunting which looked to be staking a claim to a territory



Tuesday 23 February 2016

Grey Plovers having a "foam party" on the beach

In between my many chores I sneaked out to Elliot hoping to find the Grey Plovers below and on the way back checked Keptie Pond and Whiting Ness where two Snow Bunting were still around. There could have been more but they were quite far into the field and difficult to see in the stubble.


Grey Plovers, not snow but foam on the beach





Redshank


Still at Whiting Ness, this Herring Gull is a constant and may be attracted to food discarded after dark by "courting couples"


One of many Jackdaws at Keptie Pond, Arbroath



Scaup, Pintails, Red-throated Diver and sun at Montrose Basin

A day at Montrose Basin and it was sunny and yet I spent a lot of my time in the Wigeon Hide watching the waders and ducks. Elsewhere I managed to find a Scaup and was surprised by a Red-throated Diver. The poor photos of the Dunnock at the bottom of this post show some kind of growth on its face and eye?

Scaup Drake video, click here,      Pintails video, click here,


Scaup drake at Maryton Ditch but distant



Red-throated Diver also Maryton



Pintails near Rossie Mills



Wigeon spooked by a Peregrine at the Wigeon Hide and can you spot another duck species?



Buzzard



This Dunnock at the Twite feeding station appears to have growths on the bridge of its beak and its left eye


Doesn't look healthy and I got quite close for a Dunnock





Saturday 20 February 2016

Snow Bunting and others

A few to tidy up the week.

The Snow Bunting was one of at least 18 at Arbroath Cliffs on Friday (and still on Saturday).
The Short-eared Owl is the one at Aberdeen getting rid of what it can't digest.
The Eider, Sanderlings and Skylark were all seen on my Webs survey at Easthaven and the bottom four are from the Montreathmont hide including just the first Siskin I've seen this year. One day I'll be there when the sun shines, or not!

Two replacement photos taken Sunday


Snow Bunting


Snow Bunting at Arbroath Cliffs



Short-eared Owl coughing up a pellet


Eider drake


Sanderling


Skylark


Siskin male


Blue Tit


Coal Tit


Dunnock






Friday 19 February 2016

Aberdeen - Short-eared Owls and another tame Mandarin Drake

A social trip to Aberdeen to show Olive a long staying Mandarin Drake in Johnstone Gardens Park and at the Beach Esplanade we were lucky to see a hunting Short-eared Owl catch a vole near to where we were hiding. Proves at least to me that it's a case of choose a spot and one will come in, patience needed sometimes!

 Mandarin video, click here,


Just caught a vole then it noticed me but didn't seem bothered


The same owl on one of its favourite posts


Ever wondered where David Bowie got inspiration for his Ziggy Stardust hair style



Not much light on the pond





Turnstone feeding on the verge at beach esplanade






Tuesday 16 February 2016

Ring-necked drake, Nuthatch and Mandarin all at Pitlochry

My second visit to Pitlochry in a week and this time a success when I found all of the birds I'd went for and a bonus Canada Goose. I did miss the Mandarin at first as it was sleeping under the pontoon and it took a while for the Nuthatches to arrive at the feeder I'd filled with peanuts. The Ring-necked drake which has been there since October was confined to a small area of open water and slept most of the time.


Ring-necked Drake video, click here


Mandarin Drake sleeping under the pontoon at the boat house on Loch Faskally


Nuthatch at the Killecrankie Visitor Centre





Ring-necked Drake at The Cuilc


Grumpy Sod!!


Canada Goose also on Faskally


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